IT was Maximo Park's name at the top of the bill, but the spotlight was firmly turned on the hottest band of the moment - the much-hyped Arctic Monkeys.

The Sheffield four-piece were virtually unheard of four months ago but are now making British music history after releasing the fastest selling debut album ever. After hitting the headlines in every newspaper and selling out gigs across the country - it was finally Brum's turn to see a slice of the action on the eagerly awaited NME tour.

Despite the huge success of their debut album, Whatever People Say I am That's What I'm Not, I was dubious of whether they could live up the media hype that has catapulted them into the limelight.

But I could not help but get sucked into what has earned them such adulation, award nominations aplenty and turned frontman Alex Turner into the rock god of the moment.

The band's success seems down to his enormous stage presence as well as the heavy riffs, catchy tunes, brilliantly observational lyrics and northern twang.

Skulking in the shadows were the mighty Maximo Park, brilliant in their own right but given the tough job of following Turner and his bandmates.

The atmosphere died down and many left before the headline act took their place on stage but those that did missed a cracking performance.

Despite over-compensating a little by bounding around the stage like lunatics, the material speaks for itself with tunes like I Want You to Stay, Apply Some Pressure and The Coast is Always Changing more than match for many of the Monkeys' tracks.

Although the crowd was clearly only ready to worship at the feet of Arctic Monkeys, the performance of the night had to go the Geordie newcomers for me.

Also worth a mention were up and coming bands Mystery Jets and We Are Scientists - both definitely worth a look, or a listen, and kicked off the bill to this top-flight gig perfectly. The NME tour is what makes the Academy so great - a chance to see a wealth of talent under one roof.